The role of localgovernments in the protection of the environment in uganda. A case study of sembabule district

ABSTRACT

In Uganda environmental and natural resource management is decentralized and has been the responsibility of Local districts since 1996.Decentralisation is defined as; A process through which authority and responsibility for some functions are transferred from the Central Government To Local Governments ,Communities and the private sector.[FAO,2014].This environmental management arrangement was part of a broader decentralization process and was intended to increase local ownership and improve environmental policy; however, its implementation has encountered several major challenges since. This research paper reviews some of the key structural problems facing decentralized environmental policy in Uganda and examines these issues within the wider framework of political decentralization. The research is composed of the historical background and the current development of environmental Law in Uganda since the days of colonialism to date. The researcher looked at the relationship between different stakeholder in the protection of the environment ,including; Technical staff, Politicians at different levels, Local and Central Government, private individuals and Non Government Organizations together with other policy domains. The study is to offer a critical reflection on the perspectives and the limitations of decentralized environmental governance in Uganda. The researcher also looked at the applicability of Common Law principles with respect to environmental protection and the effectiveness of the present Legal framework in Uganda in the protection of the environment. The research concentrate on the role played by Sembabule district as a case study in the protection of the environment ,enforcement of the environmental laws, educating of masses about environmental laws and the inter-relationship between the public and stakeholders with respect to environmental standards. Finally the study gives the recommendation and observation based on the findings from the ground, written materials and responses to the questionnaires that are attached.